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Tax Deed Sales

Tax Deed Sales and the issuance of tax deeds are governed by Florida Statute 197. The procedure involves a Tax Certificate Holder (tax certificates are sold to collect delinquent taxes) applying for a tax deed through the Tax Collector.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is statutorily responsible for conducting Tax Deed Sales and issuing a tax deed in the name of the county to the successful bidder at a sale. This does not involve a court order and a case is not filed in court.

Tax Deed Sales FAQs

What are my options for obtaining customer service from the Clerk's office?

What are tax deed sales?

The Tax Deed Department sells property that is delinquent in taxes. A tax deed sale occurs after an owner of a tax certificate applies to the Tax Collector for a tax deed after the tax certificate has been held for the statutory period.

What are some things that I should know before the sales?

Properties should be researched before bidding. It is very important to understand what you are purchasing at the sale and whether there may be any liens remaining on the property. Tax deed sales are not for the uninformed. The Clerk's Office can not advise you on tax deed sales. You may want to seek the assistance of a legal advisor.

The lists of properties available for sale contain only the folio numbers for the properties being offered. Information regarding structures located on the property or their condition is not available through the Clerk's Office.

What happens if I am successful in a bid for a property?

You are required to post a nonrefundable deposit of 5% of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the conclusion of the bidding for the parcel.

Payment in full, including documentary stamps and recording fees, must be made by 10:00 A.M. the next business day. Payments can be made through the online sales site or in person with cash or by cashier's check payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court. Upon receipt, a tax deed will be issued and recorded.

If full payment is not made, the Clerk shall cancel all bids, re-advertise the sale, and pay all costs of the sale from the deposit. Any remaining funds will be applied toward the opening bid. The clerk may refuse to recognize the bid of any person who has previously bid and refused, for any reason, to honor their bid.

What happens if a property receives no bids at the auction?

Properties for which no bids are received are placed on the Lands Available List, if it is a County-held certificate. Florida Statute 197 states the County may, at any time within the first 90 days from the day the property is placed on the list, purchase the property for the opening base bid. After the ninety-day period, the property is available for purchase by the public for the base bid plus accrued interest, any taxes due, documentary stamps, and recording and indexing fees.

If a non-homestead property brought to sale by an individual certificate holder (the applicant) has no bids, the property shall be sold to the certificate holder, who shall pay to the Clerk any amounts included in the minimum bid not already paid within 30 days after the sale. If the certificate holder fails to make full payment, within 30 days after the sale, the Clerk shall enter the property on a list entitled "Lands Available for Taxes."

If a homestead property brought to sale by an individual certificate holder has no bids, the certificate holder shall pay to the Clerk one-half of the assessed value of the homestead, the documentary stamp tax and the recording fees within 30 days after the sale. Upon payment, a tax deed shall be issued and recorded by the Clerk. If the certificate holder fails to make full payment, 30 days after the sale, the clerk shall enter the property on a list entitled Lands Available for Taxes.

How can I find unpaid tax certificates on properties that have not yet been scheduled for sale?

What are the fees associated with this service?

The charges listed are established by Florida Statutes, Hillsborough County ordinances, administrative orders, rules of court procedures and special legislative acts.

NOTE: Some charges include additional fees that are authorized by county ordinances, which may vary from county to county.

Advertising: actual cost will vary with each newspaper.

Disbursement of excess proceeds from Tax Deed sale. First $100 or fraction thereof

$10.00

Postage: When the Clerk mails documents by Certified or Registered Mail, the party requesting the documents is responsible for the applicable postage cost.

Photocopying: Any instrument in the Public Record not more than 8.5 by 14 inches, per page

$1.00

Certifying copies of any instrument in Public Records

$2.00

Receiving money into the registry of court:
(1) First $500
(2) Each subsequent $100.00

3%
1.5%

Recording: First page or fraction thereof
Each additional page

$10.00
$8.50

Sheriff: service
Sheriff: posting

$40.00
$40.00 per posting

State Documentary Stamps/Real Estate Conveyances: Rate per $100 of consideration or part on deeds or other instrument conveying and interest in real estate. A 70 cent stamp must be affixed to deeds which have a consideration of $100 or less.

Tax Deed sale application includes sale, issuance and preparation of tax deed and disbursement or proceeds of sale (other than excess proceeds)